Schoolchildren brave storm to perform at Coirm Gael Linn festival in Fermoy
They were rehearsed, in costume, prepared and excited and it was going to take more than 160km/hour winds to stop young schoolchildren from right around county Cork from performing in the annual Coirm Gael Linn festival in Fermoy last Wednesday!
Nearly 400 enthusiastic young actors, musicians, singers and dancers braved the storm to perform, coming from the Presentation NS in Doneraile; Gaelscoil Uí Drisceoil, Glanmire; Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers, Farranferris; Gaelscoil Dr. Uí Shúilleabháin, Skibbereen; Gaelscoil Mheachan, Gaelscoil Bheanntraí and Gaelscoil de hÍde, Fermoy. There was even a group who travelled from Co. Tipperary - Ballinure NS.
HIGH STANDARD
The young performers staged variety shows with all of their singing, dancing, story telling and acting done 'as Gaeilge' using a theme of their choosing. The organisers say the standard was very high, thanks to enthusiastic and hard-working teachers who produced the shows.
The hall at Fermoy Community Youth Centre was packed to capacity with parents, teachers and schoolchildren who proved an appreciative audience. They were entertained before and after each act by popular entertainer Guido Fanzini.
Coirm Gael Linn has proved a popular event on the school calendar since its inception in 2002. It's not a competition as such, but each show is reviewed by a guest adjudicator and outstanding performances by individuals or groups are rewarded with special merit prizes or 'gradaim'.
LOCAL AWARDS
Gaelscoil de hÍde took home two such awards, one for superb acting by the main characters and the second for the great teamwork displayed by the whole cast in their show 'Ní ma a shíltear a bítear!' (All is not as it seems!), directed by teacher Cian Mac Gearailt.
Their new take on an old story won several gradaim for the Presentation Convent in Doneraile, the energy displayed in their acting, dancing and music in 'Oisín eile i dTír na nÓg (Another Oisín in the Land of Youth), attracting much favourable comment from the guest adjudicator to the delight of their teacher Bríd Nic Oireachtaigh.
Creating a bit of a storm of their own was Gaelscoil Uí Drisceoil, Glanmire. Under the direction of Malachaí Mac Amhlaoibh, their prodution 'An Garbhán' (The Gruffalo) captured two awards for them, with a special mention reserved for the young pupil who played the role of the mouse.
Event organiser, Seán Ó Ceallaigh of Gael Linn, said "Gael Linn has a long tradition of using the arts as a medium for promoting the Irish language among young people. By having a positive and fun experience at Coirm we hope the children will be encouraged to use whatever knowledge they have of the language, both inside and outside the classroom."
Fermoy was one of nine one-day festivals being held at various venues throughout the country during February and March.
Published:
Monday 24th February 12:04pm
